[bucky]

1axbycz1, on 2010-October-05, 07:06, said:

Ok. So that's your standard leads. Is that your general standrad lead, or do you only lead that if playing partner's suit?

My opps play high from xxx as their standard lead.

Also, when I learn about signalling, something that I have failed at understanding: when can a spot card be used as a signal, and when can it not? I know that signalling is less important than winning tricks. If I suspect that the card is needed, I do not make that discard. However, how I have made mistakes by discarding 8s and 9s, and once a 6, without even suspecting that I would need it. How do I determine if it is neccessary? If this is a question that is too tough for B/I, please let me know.

If I change the deal slightly, swapping the ♠4 with partner's ♦3, would you still lead the ♠2? I know very well that on this deal that the contract is now undefeatable, but just asking, would you still lead it?

The lead of ♠2 is to show partner that we have 3 spades, not because we know to preserve the 9 (which happens to be a key spot card for this deal, but it's hard to foresee). Regardless of your normal methods of leading from 3 small cards, try leading low when you haven't supported partner. Partner then knows that you have 3+ in his suit. He will figure out that you may not have an honor in that suit, otherwise you may have already showed the support during bidding. On the other hand, had you raised partner in the bidding but you have 3 small, lead a high spot card. Partner knows that you have 3+ card support (so you need not lead a low card to repeat that message), now it is more important to let him know about the quality of support. In short, when deciding what to lead, try to give partner most useful information that couldn't be obtained from the bidding.